The Christmas Journey by Winnie Griggs

Author:Winnie Griggs [Griggs, Winnie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Limited
Published: 2009-09-14T20:00:00+00:00

Ry stared at the ceiling, resigned to the fact that he’d spend another restless night.

This morning he’d lain in bed feeling guilty for failing Belle, and hoping to get a few answers. The only real problem in front of him at that point, though, had been deciding whether he wanted to call Texas or Philadelphia home.

Tonight he’d found himself the guardian of a much-too-somber seven-year-old and her cat. Sort of put things in perspective.

A sound from the hallway caught his attention. Was someone else having trouble sleeping?

Curious, he crossed the room and cracked open his door. It was dark on this end of the hall, but the stairway was gilded with moonlight from the window over the landing.

A child-sized form, a cat clutched in her arms, tiptoed toward the stairs.

Ry grabbed his pants and stepped into them. What was Viola up to? Surely she wasn’t planning to run away? Alarmed, he grabbed a shirt and followed her, still working the buttons. He got as far as the bend in the staircase before he realized she’d sat down on the bottom tread.

He paused. Now what? Did he give her some privacy to work out whatever was on her mind? Or did he try to comfort her?

Before he could decide, Josie stepped from the kitchen and paused. “And just what are you doing sitting here in the dark, young lady?”

“Me and Daffy couldn’t sleep.”

Should he make his presence known?

“I see. Mind if I join you?” The tread creaked as Josie sat beside her.

Ry decided it would be less intimidating for Viola to have just one adult to deal with. And he trusted Josie to find the right words.

“So,” Josie asked in a stage whisper, “do my nieces snore?”

Viola giggled. “No. Well, maybe just a little,” she temporized.

“But that’s not why you can’t sleep, is it?”

The child raised the cat to her cheek as she shook her head.

“You know,” Josie’s tone was that of someone sharing a secret, “I lost my ma, too. It was three years ago but I still remember like it was yesterday. It left a big old hole right in the middle of my heart that hurt awful bad.”

“Did you cry?”

“Sure did.”

There was a bit of a pause, then she looked up at Josie. “Do you still cry sometimes?”

“No, not about my ma’s passing. But it took awhile. I had to get over being mad at God first.”

Even from where he stood, Ry could feel the shocked surprise pouring out of Viola. It was pretty much a reflection of his own.

“You were mad at God?” The child’s words were hushed, as if she were almost afraid to voice the question.

“Yep.” Josie spoke as if such an admission was normal. “I mean, He already had my pa, why’d He need to take my ma too?

“But God is good.” Viola appeared to be trying to reason with Josie. “You’re not supposed to get mad at Him.”

Josie leaned back against the banister. “Let me ask you this. Did you ever get a

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